Sports Roundup: Jan 17-23

Belt Will Show Off Big Bat with Giants in Spring Training
Brandon Belt might just be ready to make the same leap that current San Francisco Giants Pablo Sandoval and Buster Posey made after just one season of minor league ball. Belt is considered the Giants organization’s top prospect, and he will get a shot to see if he’s ready in spring training in February. According to an MLB.com report, Will Clark praised the 22-year-old as having a better swing than the six-time All-Star ever did. We shall see. General Manager Brian Sabean has already said the versatile fielder, who hit .383 in 77 games with the San Jose Giants last season, will only make the club if he earns a starting job.

Stanford Women Look to Keep Winning Streak AliveNo. 4 Stanford vs. No. 8 UCLA, Thursday at 7pm
Still rolling strong after snapping Connecticut’s NCAA record of 90 victories in a row, the Cardinal (14-2) is now on an eight-game winning streak entering Saturday’s matchup with 8th-ranked UCLA (15-1). Stanford’s Nnemkadi Ogwumike, named Pac-10 Player of the Week on Monday, and Jeanette Pohlen (16.4 points per game) will need to continue carrying the load against the stingy Bruins, who are holding opponents to under 40 percent from the field. If the Cardinal, currently ranked fourth in the nation, can get through Thursday’s 7pm matchup at Maples Pavillon, as well as a 2pm game Saturday against visiting USC, Stanford could begin a Southern California road trip in mid-February without having lost a game in two months.

Roster Changes Looming as Sharks Return HomeSan Jose Sharks vs. Minnesota Wild, Saturday at 7:30pm.
Two teams which have been consistently inconsistent this season will take to the ice at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, when the San Jose Sharks host the equally up-and-down Minnesota Wild. Blame for the Sharks’ sluggish play this season has been passed around from The Big Three—Dana Heatley, Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton—to coach Todd McClellan, with no one seeming to know exactly what’s wrong. Thankfully, the bleeding stopped over the weekend as the club’s six-game losing streak ended with a 4-2 win over St. Louis. If the Sharks can’t tame the Wild at this weekend’s matchup at HP Pavilion, and enter the mid-season break with some kind of momentum, General Manager Doug Wilson could give the roster a serious makeover. Reports have San Jose targeting a veteran defenseman.

Now or Never for San Jose State Women?
Losing streaks don’t last forever, but it must feel like an eternity for the Lady Spartans, whose last win was almost a year ago. San Jose State has dropped all 16 of its games this season after beating Dominican in an exhibition, and the team’s last victory came against visiting Hawaii on Feb. 17. While SJSU will be underdogs in Thursday’s 7 p.m. game at the SJSU Events Center with visiting Idaho as well Saturday at the same time against the Rainbow Warriors, the matchups could be just what the doctor ordered. The last two games the Lady Spartans came away from victorious were against the same clubs they’ll be facing this weekend.